With the 2018 Cheltenham Festival just a matter of weeks away now, we can look forward to four days of thrilling action once again as the best in the business do battle in the Gold Cup and other eagerly anticipated races. There will be some hard-fought clashes as leading lights bid for supremacy, and here are the key matchups to look out for – check out these Cheltenham Festival 2018 betting tips before the big event.
Might Bite v Sizing John
Sizing John achieved superstar status when he won three Gold Cups last season: Punchestown, Leopardstown and the piece de resistance, Cheltenham. He relished the step up in trip after years in Douvan’s shadow and proved himself to be the best in the business. The eight-year-old was tipped to dominate once more this season, but he has struggled to recapture the stunning form that defined his 2017 campaign.
He flopped in the Christmas Chase and was branded “clinically abnormal” after being well beaten by Road To Respect. The new antepost favourite for the Cheltenham Gold Cup is Might Bite, who romped to victory in the King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day. He obliterated the field, finishing ahead of leading lights such as Bristol De Mai, Thistlecrack and Whisper, and will be expected to dominate that trio once again at Cheltenham.
Road To Respect put in a great shift in the Christmas Chase and looks an interesting long shot, but Might Bite is the main contender to Sizing John this year. If he overcomes injury and returns to his best he is a formidable opponent and has shown he enjoys the Cheltenham track, so it could come down to a fascinating duel between these superstar jumpers.
Buveir D’Air v Faugheen
The battle between Henderson and Mullins will be writ large in the Champion Hurdle as they saddle the leading contenders: Buveir D’Air and Faugheen. The former won this race for Henderson last year and has been in exceptional form, winning his last eight races in a row. He was supremely comfortable in the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle, and even Mullins admitted to being impressed by Buveir D’Air’s fantastic performance. He is odds-on favourite to defend the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham, but Faugheen is the one that could stop him. Mullins’ charge won it in 2015 and is one of the most talented jumpers in the world, but he has been struggling of late.
He pulled up and was dismounted as 1/6 favourite in the Ryanair Hurdle in one of the biggest upsets of the season. However, he was only beaten once in his career before that race and if on song he can really trouble Buveir D’Air.
Altior v Min
Henderson saddles the favourite in each of the three biggest races at the festival as Altior leads the fixed odds betting for the Queen Mother Champion Chase. He won it last year and was odds-on to win it again, but has since struggled with injury. However, Henderson said Altior is now “looking really good” heading into the business end of the season. He will have to overcome an extremely strong field and one leading challenger is fourth favourite Min. With Douvan sidelined, Min is one of Mullins’ leading lights for the festival and he is attracting a lot of antepost attention
